China Reminds Burma Of Obligations

A man wearing a "Save the Irrawaddy" sticker takes part in a protest in Rangoon on Sept. 27, 2011.

AFP

Beijing has asked the Burmese government to protect the interests of Chinese companies whose massive dam project in the Southeast Asian nation was put on hold last week following strong protests from environmentalists and other groups.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a statement posted on the ministry's website that issues related to the $3.6 billion Myitsone Dam should be "handled appropriately through bilateral friendly consultation."

He urged the Burmese government to "protect the legal and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises," emphasizing that the dam on Burma's Irrawaddy River is a "jointly invested project" and that it has "gone through scientific verification and strict examination [on] both sides."

The 3,600 megawatt project in Burma's northern Kachin state would have supplied 90 percent of its electricity to China, with the Burmese government receiving about $500 million annually.

In a stunning announcement Friday, Burmese President Thein Sein said that work on the controversial dam would be suspended "according to the desire of the people."

The dam had provoked rare public outcry in Burma in recent weeks, as police shut down a rally in Rangoon calling for a stop to the mammoth project.

Critics say the dam would submerge dozens of villages, displace more than 10,000 people, and destroy the ecology of the Irrawaddy, Burma's lifeline and longest waterway. The dam, which would create a reservoir the size of Singapore, is also close to a fault line, which could be hazardous in an earthquake.

Photo: RFA

People's desire

The decision to halt the dam was welcomed by the parliament and the public.

"Now that the president has announced the dam will be suspended, I think
there is nothing China can do about it," Jay Yaw Wu, a member of
Burma's parliament from Kachin state, told RFA.

"China should know that the Burmese government has no other choice but
to stop the Myitsone Dam as [it is] the people's strong desire," said
Aung Kyaw Zaw, a political and military analyst based on the
Sino-Burmese border.

"But China used a dominating tone with the Burmese government, and China
looks out for its own interests, not for the people in Burma," he said.

The dam was proposed in 2006 by Burma's then ruling military junta led
by Senior General Than Shwe. Three years later, the military-backed Asia
World Company signed a contract to build the dam with China Power
Investment Corp.

The decision to halt the dam is a rare reversal for the new, nominally
civilian government that took power in March following landmark
elections in November.

It was also seen as part of a series of reform initiatives started in
recent months by the government, which wants Western governments to lift
long-running political and economic sanctions on it.

The halting of the dam is also a rare disagreement between Burma and
China, which are neighbors and close allies. Some suggested the dam
could be replaced by another joint venture.

"China may have given a lot of money to Asia World Company and some
people in the government for this Myitsone project, but, I think, it can
get another project [instead]," Aung Kyaw Zaw said.

"I don't think this dam case will damage the relationship between China
and Myanmar [Burma] as there are many areas in which China can do
business in the country," Jay Yaw Wu said.

Reported by RFA's Burmese Service. Translated by Maung Maung Nyo. Written in English by Rachel Vandenbrink.

Anonymous Reader

Protect the interest of the Chinese companies?. What about the welfare of the people of Burma esply Kachin brothers and sisters. Who care Chinese company?.

Oct 06, 2011 06:02 PM

Anonymous Reader

Beijing govt. spokesman constantly dismiss criticism of the PRC's human rights violations as "interference in internal affairs." However, these same guys are more than willing to interfere into the internal affairs of Myanmar by second-guessing the Myanmar president's decision and the public opinion that contributed to it.

Oct 05, 2011 10:59 AM

Anonymous Reader

Remember the saying, 'Putting bullocks infront of a cart'. At least, this time, the 'Guy' came out. I'm holding my breath.

Oct 03, 2011 09:44 AM

Anonymous Reader

Who care's about what china thinks. They all stupidly hungry for money and rich that they forgotten other races values and heritage.

Oct 03, 2011 03:34 AM

Anonymous Reader

Now the guy came out to say that is the will of the people to stop this project. When this project was initiated, where was the will of the people? Nobody put a gun on your head to agree to this project. This is totally radiculous.